http://www.grassrootsonline.org/news/blog/report-peoples-summit-americas
Thanks, Sarah Frazer, Global Development Program Director, for sharing the information.
IV People's Summit of the Americas/ IV Cumbre de los Pueblos de las Américas . . . by Irmary Reyes-Santos
http://www.grassrootsonline.org/news/blog/report-peoples-summit-americas
Thanks, Sarah Frazer, Global Development Program Director, for sharing the information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2009
MESSAGE TO NORTH AMERICAN LEADERS ATTENDING THE V SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS -
from North American Networks, Social Movements and Civil Society
We, the North American networks and organizations, members of the Hemispheric Social Alliance (and others) signing below- participants in the IV Peoples' Summit of the Americas in Trinidad Tobago, during April 16-18, call for swift and dramatic actions from our governments. After having lived with and suffered the negative impacts of 15 years of NAFTA, we are concerned about the expansion to the rest of the Americas of the latest neo-liberal program: the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP).
Three aspects of the SPP that are of most concern include: a) heavily financed security and militarization components, b) an expansion of the model to the rest of the continent c) the surrendering of multiple issues belonging in public domain to corporate control.
For these reasons we are calling on Presidents Calderon (Mexico), Obama (U.S.) and Prime Minister Harper (Canada) to:
Our governments need to recognize the depth and breadth of changes which are happening in the entire hemisphere. There is an urgent need for a changing of attitudes and actions of imposition. This could be demonstrated concretely by:
It is particularly preoccupying that the official declaration of the V Summit of the Americas makes scant reference to the economic crisis, despite the widespread and devastating impacts being felt by our peoples. These impacts are the result of the irresponsible behavior of a small group of speculators. Therefore, we demand swift action to change the rules of the global economic order and protect the most vulnerable among us.
Alliance for Responsible Trade (ART) United States (TT 868-462-0223)
Common Frontiers (Canada)
Quebec Network on Continental Integration (RQIC)
Mexican Action Network on Free Trade (RMALC)
Grassroots Global Justice
Campaña Sin Maíz no hay País
Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Industria Nuclear
Grassroots International